Device for tempering steam



Dec. 7, 1948. v w. c.' GLOVER, JR 2,455,754

DEVICE FOR TEMPERING STEAM Filed garan 1o, 1945 L. 10, *5d-* INToR. 5 i gw/fm www A TTRNEYJ `mechariism.`

`a `minimurnof connections.

Patented Dec. 7, 1.948

2,455,754 c DEVICE FOR rEMrrRmd STEAM `Pl/illam C. Glover,`Jr., Lees Summit, Mo., as- Y .Signor to Bill Glover Incorporated, a corporation of Missouri Application March 10,\1945S eral No.` 582,111 -11 claims. (ci. 26h-51) This invention relates to an apparatus for supvplypgsteam needed in various processing steps; for esempio, .in spottingor shaping garments and `the like in drycleaning establishments.

In this WPS pf Work, steam is required having diiterent .degrees .0i moisture content varying from a very @TY Sill-.fem to .one containing" a considerable amount .of entrainedmoisture. Heretofore it has been the practice to provide a dry steam and to temper the dry steamas required with condensate `.from some part ofthe steam system. This has necessitated a complicated piping system and separate controlvalves for regulating ilow of` dry steam and condensate Thus, separate controls were required for actuating the valves orthe valves were interconnected 4by a complicated operating system in which lost motion connections were requiredto time the valves.

1t is therefore a principal Object of the present invention tc provide a `steam supplyapparatus in- "i :volving a simple, seit-contained, unitary `structure devoid of complicated piping and which is adapted to be actuated by a` single operating @ther objects ofthe invention areto provide an apparatus which effectively and positively supplies stcamhaving the desired characteristic at the time such `steam is required; to provide an `operating mechanism whichv has positive connec- "ticn `with thestealm control mechanism; "and -to assurelsupply of tempered steam intermediate the ilo'wtof Idry steam` so `as to avoid water streaking of a garmentand extensive feathering operations necessary -to prevent streaking and staining ing .operations andcwhich maybe assembledwith in accomplishing theseand othersobicctsof3 the I .have provided improved structure. the preferred -form of `which is illustrated .in theiaci compagnes .drawifnsfwhereinr .Fia tis vertical ssctionthrusha Steam e111?- .piyunitfeinbcdyirig `the features ofthe present.

intention' Fig. 2 is .a perspective view of the parts ofthe controland tempering mechanisms in spaced re- .latiorlft blier illustrate construction thereof..

...eierrpg .more riidctail to the drawing: i Iv designates a stcemsupolv apparatus. Consituated` ,is gemeente with. tlieprcserit intentan and whichincludes a vessel? thatmaybeof any suitable-shape depending uren the Space and .c911- venience of mounting thereof. `In the illustrated instance, the vessel 2` has a vertical cylindrical wall 3 closed at the ends by outwardly dished heads 4 and 5 to form a pressure-tight chamber 6. The bottom head 5 has anoutlet 1 to connect a drain pipe 8 through which sediment may be withdrawn `from the bottom of the chamber 6 upon removal of a plug or opening a valve (not shown) that is' connected therewith. Steam is supplied to the chamber I; near the upper portion thereof through a lateral port 9 in a boss I0, the boss If! being internally threaded as at II to connect the steam supply pipe I 2 through which dry steam is supplied tothe chamber 6. Part of the steam condenses and collects in the bottom of the chamber as indicated `by the body of liquid I 3. A predetermined *level of liquid is maintained in the chamber 6 by providing the side wall at a point below the port 9 with an overflow port I4 formed in an outwardly extending boss I5 which is internally threaded as at I6 to connect a pipe I'I through which the excess condensate is conducted to the source of steam supply or otherwise disposed."`The upper head 4 has a relatively large axial `opening I8 encircled by a flange I9 having a gasket seat 2l) thereon for seating a gasket ring 2l in encircling relation with the opening I8. The opening is internally threaded to mount a steam tempering unit 22now to be described.

The assembly 22 includes a valve body 23 having a cylindrical portion 24 depending Within the steam space of the chamber 6 but preferably terminating above the condensate level indicated at 25. At the opposite end of the body is a head 26 having athreaded portion 2l engaged in ythe threads 28 of the opening I8. Formed on the head above the gasket is a nut-shaped ange 29, the sides of which are adapted to be engaged by a .suitable wrench to thread the assembly within the opening I8` and to effect sealing contact with the gasket ring 42|, The valve body has an axial bore of varying diameter to provide a condensate compartment 30 of relatively large diameter in the lower end thereof, a steam compartment 3| of smailer diameter, and a iiow passageway 32 of still, smaller diameter to provide stepped valve seats 33 and 3.4 between the compartments 30 `and .3l and the compartment 3| `and passageway 32 respectively. The seats are preferably formed by providing depending circumferential ribs 35 and ,36 encircling the lower end or inlet of the steam chamber andtheinlet oi the passageway 32.

The passageway `32 continues through the head forms the bottom of the chamber 30.

the threaded neck 33 of a steam outlet connection 4l). In the illustrated instance the connection 4@ includes a nipple 4| for attaching a hose (not shown) of a steam nozzle (also not shown) but which is used in connection with the spotting oi garments on a spotting board in accordance with established practice in the cleaning industry. lWhen the steam is to be used for other purposes, the connection 40 may be suitably shaped to connect the desired ilow duct.

Condensate is delivered to the chamber 30 by 'the steam pressure on the body of condensate I3 through a tubular duct 42 having its upper end ireadingly connected as at 43 with the valve body and having its lower end terminating short of the lower head 5. Flow of condensate through the tubular duct is maintained at a fixed constant by an orice 44 in a plate 45 that is threaded into the upper end of thetubular duct and which team is admitted to the chamber 3| through a lateral port 46 opening through the side of the valve body at a point within the upper portion of the steam chamber, the flow capacity of the lateral *porty being less than theeffective flow capacity through the passageway 32 so as to assure flow oi condensate through the orice 44 by the aspiratin'g eilect of steam ow later described.

Contained within the condensate chamber and adapted to close the lower end of the steam charnber is a valving member 41 having a seating face 48 normally retained in contact with the seat 33 by action'of a coil spring 49 that has one end seated on the bottom of the chamber 33 and its opposite end encircling a boss U on the valving member as shown in Fig. 1. The valving member 41 has an axial stem 5| projecting upwardly into the steam chamber 3| but which terminates short of the steam inlet port 46. The lbore of the valve body continues therethrough to provide a valve stem guide 52 for a stem 53 of a valve 54 contained within the steam chamber 3|,the valve having a seating face 55 adapted to engage the ,seat 34 to normally prevent flow of steam from the steam chamber. The valve member 54 has a depending stem 5G that is coaxial with the stem 5| :but spaced therefrom as indicated at 51 (Fig.

'1) whereby the valve 54 may be actuated independently of the valve 41. The stem 53 is extended through a packing 58 that is retained in 165 for connecting the slotted end 66 of operating lever 51, the lever being suitably pivoted as at 58 so that oscillation of the outer end thereof eflects opening movement of the valving member 54. Further movement of the lever eiects opening of the valving member 41 as hereinafter described.

yIn assembling the parts composing the apparatus just described, the stem 53 of the valve 54 is projected through the bore of 'the valve member from the lower end so that the seating face 55 thereof engages the seat 34. The packing 58 and packing gland 59 are then sleeved over the projecting end of the valve stem, after which the gramm spring 6U is applied followed by the Washer 6| which is retained by threading the yoke 62 upon the terminal of the valve stem. The valving member 41 is then passed through the lower end of the valve body together with the coil spring 49 so that they are positioned within the condensate` chamber 30. An orifice. plate 45 having a desired sized orlce 44'is screwed into the upper end of the tubular duct 42 and the tubular duct is threaded into the open lower end of the valve body to seat the coil spring 49 so that it yieldingly retains the valving member 41 in contact with its seat 33. The entire unit is then applied to the vessel 2 by passing the tubular duct 42 and the lower portion 24 of the valve body 23 through the threaded opening I8 in the head 4 and turning the assembly within the opening to cause the threads to draw the flange 29 into sealing contact with the gasket ring 2| completing assembly of the steam supply unit.

AIn vconnecting the steam'supply unit, the yokeshaped head 62 is connected with the lever 61.

The pipe |2 is connected witha source of dryy 7 v4l) into the steam ,chamber 3|) and condensate will rise within the tubular duct 42 and pass through the oriiice 44 to ill the condensate chamber 3U.

Assuming that a nozzle such as used in spotting garments is connected with the hose connection 43, dry steam is delivered to the nozzle upon movement of the operating lever 61 to effect unseating of the valving member 54 against action of the spring 6B whereupon dry steam from the steam chamber 3| flows through the passages 32, 31, and tting 4U to the steam nozzle.

Should wet steam be required, then the operating leveris moved va greater extent to'cause the dependingstem 56 on the valving member 54 to engage the stem 5| on the valving member 41 whereupon further movement of the operating lever unseats the valving member 41 andthe .aspirating effect of the flowing steam through the passageway 32 draws condensate from the condensate chamber 30 into the steam being delivered to the steam nozzle so as to increase the moisture content thereof. When the operating lever 61 is shifted in the opposite direction, the depending' stem 56 moves away from the stem 5| so that the spring 49 returns the valve member 41A to its seat 33. Flow is then closed from the condensate chamber to the Vsteam chamber and only dry steam is being delivered to the steam nozzle. `Further movement of the operating lever 61 seats the valving member 54 to shut 01T ow of steam from the nozzle.

It is thus obvious that with. an apparatus constructed as described, dr'y steam is delivered upon opening of the valve member 54 and the moisture is added to the dry steam when desired by effectingv further opening movement of .the valving member '54 to .cause engagement of the stem thereonwith the stem 5| of the valving member 41. i

the cperatingllever is `shifted to .close the v! e; Ilcwwol condensate is suspended into thc fcteam chamber land idrv steaml is delivered f to: the Inozzle -for finishing then-spotting operation.`

While I `have particularly i described the invention `as being fused in connection .Wththe lspotting of` garments, it `is obvious that itimay `be foranv purposeiwherever dry and moist istcamsarecrequired.

wFrom-the foregoing itis obvious that `I have provided a `steam supply apparatus for thepurposes described that is of .simple andinexpensive construction and .which may be `installed without requiring#a` `complicated `system 'of piping. fWhat JI .claim and desire to secure by Letters `Patent; is: i i

rl. `An apparatus of .the character described including a :vessel :for i containing i a body of liquid and hav-ing means `for `limiting the `maximum 'ilevelthat .the liquid :can `attain inthe vessel to l provide `.a steam space above" said liquid, a steam iin'let. connections for the vessel, a steam tempering unit including .ai valve .body having a steam `cliwnfrber and an interconnectedtemperingliquid chambenua ductzhaving an inlet locatedv/thin t @Said `-vessel thro the @rst-:named thc te Inpcrin` ,u t

cbamberlnr tem, fins said steam when. the hsv names valve isV more@ a Sufficient distance @in ,actuateth i-nrstnamedvalvet genanntes ef tncnharanter desrbdin rl-.ndineavessel .-fnr eentainins weer .frllnald and. having ,me rvr limiting the Ximlml .level ftlaatthe 1n can attain in the vessel@ `:Provide 'a s am armaron@ :Said liflvidy einem inlet fer .the vessel, Steam tennerinf `van inlndins a Yvalve bQdv navinaasleanl member and an internnnected temnrinsliqnid chamber, adinet `hai/ins an ,inlet lotatdvil in @bercer .0i `liquid within .the `vessel and C -nested Wthth `xernrielirjlg liquid. @beleben an ...Qrinmembier imsaid .duet f9.1' restricting 110W QI. liquid frernthe `vessel .into the ,tempering en. the body of liquid in said vessel, a valveconirnllins `.flew nf "tempering liquid from ther orifice member into the steam Chamber, said Steam J iillernbgr having a fs'earninlet enneeted with the Steam Space in the vessel andfhving an nur et" sind" entier being larger insize thannthe lastnamed inlet,` a' valve controlling `-`ow th "l1 `said outlet and having llost motion conne `ji'n with "the first-named valve,` and "rneansffor {actuatlng the s *last-named* `valve for `discharging "steam "from `the `steam "space saidvesrsel ""throughsaid'outlet and^for operi-ing lthefrlrst- "fnamcdlvalve for-"admitting liquid from the tempering liquid chamber finto "the steam `charriber i *for Ltempering Vsaid steam "when the `last-narned i :aber unclear` pressnre ,0f .the Steam nnlns .ien

`ilrstmamed valve.

4"steam chamber `and an interconnected tempering iliqu-id chamber, faiduct having an. inlet 1ocated `vvithin the .body of liquid within the vessel and. connected with `the `tempering 1iquid.cham

ber,` `an `orifice `member in said `duct `for restricting ilowof liquid `from the vessel into the tempering .chamber under pressure of the steam `acting on the body of liquid in` said vessel;` `a spring-pres`sed valve controlling flow of temperingliquid from the orifice member into thest'eam chamber, `said steam chamber having a .steam` inletconnected with the steamspace in the vessel andlhaving anoutlet, said `outlet beingwlarger in `size `than the last-named inlet, a `springlpressed valve controlling low throughsaid .out-1ct and having lost motion .connection with the firstnamed valve, `and `means for actuating `the 'last- `named Valve `for discharging steam from` the steam space in said `vessel through .saidoutlet .and for `opening .the iirstenamed valve forradmitting l liquid from the tempering liquid .chamber `into the steam chamber `for tempering said steam when the last-named valve `is moved a` sufcent ,distance .to actuate the `first-named valve.

.4f Anapparatusof .the character described including a vessel for containing .a body of liquid and `hav-ing `means for limiting the maximum levell that the liquid can attain in the vesselnto provide a steam .space `above `the liquid, la? steam inlet connection for thcvessel, aisteam `tempering u-nitwwithin` said vessel1 including a `valve body hav-ing a steam chamber and an `interconnected `temper-ing liquid chamber, a duct depending-into `the body `of liquid Within the vessel landlconnected with the .tempering liquid chamber` for `flow of liquidfirom` thevessel into the tempering chamber under pressure `of steam in said steam space, la valve controlling `iloiv of `tempering `motion connection with the first-named valve, and `means for actuating the last-named "valve lfor discharging steam from the steam space in said vessel through said outlet and `for opening the rst-named valve for admitting liquid from theitemperingliquid .chamber into the steam chamber for temperingsaid steam Ywhen the lastnamed `valve is moved a suflicient `distance to `aciulatethe Lfirst-named valve. i i

f5. Amapparatus of the character described-in cludng a vessel for containing a body of `liquid vand having means for limiting the `maximum level that the liquid can attain in the vessel Ato provide `a steam spaceiabove the liquid, a steam inlet connection for the vessel, a steam tempering unit within said vessel including a valve `body having aisteam chamber and an inter-connected tempering liquid chamber, a duct dependingintc thenbody of liquid Within the vessel and connected W-iththe :tempering liquid chamber,-an

named valve, and means for actuating the lastnamed valve for discharging steam from the steam space in said vessel through said outlet and for opening the rst-named valve for admitting liquid from the tempering liquid chamber into `thevsteam chamber for tempering said steam when the last-named valve is moved a sufficient distance to actuate the first-named valve.

6. An apparatus of the character described including .a vesselior containing a body of liquid and 4having an opening in the top of the vessel, a liquid overflow connection for maintaining a predetermined maximum level of the liquid in the vessel, a steam inlet connection connected with the space in said vessel above the surface of the liquid, a steam tempering unit mounted within the opening in the top oi said vessel in cluding a valve body having an upper steam chamber and a lower liquid chamber connected with the steam chamber, a duct depending from :the valve body into the liquid contained within the vessel, an orifice member in said duct for restricting flow yof liquid from the vessel into the tempering chamber under pressure of the steam in said steam space, a spring-pressed valve controlling iiow of tempering liquid from the orice into the steam chamber, said steam chamber having a steam inlet directly connected with the steam space in the vessel and having an outlet from the vessel through the valve body, a stem movable through said outlet the lastnamed inlet being restricted in size as compared with the cross-sectional area of the annular space between the stem and said outlet, a valve on the stem for controlling discharge of steam from the steam space through said outlet and adapted to engage and open the first-named, valve for admitting liquid from the tempering liquid chamber into the steam chamber for tempering said steam', a packing carried by the valve body for eiiecting a seal about the stem, and an actuator for the stem.

'7. Apparatus of the character described comprising an enclosed vessel, a source of steam connected to the vessel whereby condensate of the steam is adapted to collect in the vessel, a condensate overflow connection limiting the maximum level attained by the condensate in the vessel, an elongated body extending downwardly through the top of the vessel and having its lower end below the surface of the condensate, a

passageway through the body with an inlet below the surface of the condensate and an outlet above the top of the vessel, said body having a lateral duct of restricted size connecting said passageway with the steam space above the surface of the condensate, a pair of aligned normally' seated valves in said passageway one positioned above said lateral duct and the other below said duct, one of the valves carrying a member extending toward the other valve and the latter valve having aligned with said member an abutment surface normally spaced from the free end ,.8 of said member,- mechanism for depressing the upper valve to unseat same thereby to permit steam entering said passageway `through the lateral duct to escape to said outlet, said mechanism optionally operable to continue the downward movement of the upper valve thereby to close the gap' between said member and said abutment surface and cause the member to depress the lower valve to unseatsame, whereby condensate is permitted to pass through the lower valve and mix with the steam entering the passageway through the lateral duct.

8. Apparatus of the character described comprising an enclosed vessel, a source of steam connected to the vessel wherebycondensate ofthe steam is adapted to collect in the vessel, a condensate overilow connection limiting the maximum level attained by the condensate in said vessel, a duct having its inlet end submerged in the condensate and its outlet end communicating with the space outside of the vessel, a pairof normally closed valves in said duct dividing the duct into three serially related sections, means for opening the valve nearest the outlet end of the duct, a lost-motion connection between the valves whereby the valve nearest the inlet end remains closed during the initial opening of the valve nearest the outlet end but upon further opening of the latter valve is also opened to permit condensate to pass through the two valves in series to the space outside of the vessel, and the section of the duct intermediate the two valves having in its wall a restricted oriiice communicating with the steam space above the condensate in the vessel whereby opening of the vthrough the top of the Vessel and having its lower end below the surface of the liquid, a passageway through said body with an inlet below the surface of the liquid and an outlet above the top'of the vessel, said body having a lateral duct of restricted size connecting said passageway with the space above the surface of the liquid, a pair of aligned normally seated valves in said passageway one positioned above said lateral duct and the other below said duct, one of said valves carrying a member extending toward the other valve and the latter valve having aligned with said member an abutment surface normally spaced from the free end of said member, means for moving the upper valve downwardly thereby to unseat same and optionally continuing such movement thereby first to close the gap between said member and said abutment surface and then to advance said member to unseat the lower valve.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising an enclosed vessel containing a liquid and, above the surface' of the liquid, a fluid under pressure, a duct having its inlet en d submerged in the liquid and its outlet end communicating with the space outside of the vessel, a pair of normally closed valves in said duct dividing the duct into three serially related sections, means for ropening the valve nearest the outlet end of the duct, a lost-motion connection between the valves whereby the valve nearest the inlet end remains closed during the initial opening of the valve nearest the outlet end but uponurtlier opening of the latter valve is also opened to permit the liquid to pass through the two valves in` series to the space outside of the vessel, and the section of the duct intermediate the two valves having in its wall a restricted orice communicating with the space above the surface of the liquid in the vessel whereby opening of the valve nearest the outlet end of the duct permits the fluid entering the duct through said orifice to escape to the space outside of the vessel. I

11. Apparatus for optionally mixing iluids, comprising a mixing chamber having aligned inlet and outlet ports on opposite sides thereof, coaxial normally seated inlet and outlet valves associated with the respective ports. one of said valves carrying a member in the mixing chamber which projects toward the other valve, said other Valve having aligned with said member an abutment surface normally spaced from the free end of said member, means for moving the outlet valve toward the inlet valve thereby to unseat the outlet valve and optionally continuing such movement thereby to i'lrst close the gap between said member and said abutment surface and then cause said member to unseat said inlet valve, a source of uid connected to said chamber inde- 10 pendently of said ports whereby unseating of the outlet valve permits Iluid from said source to enter said chamber and escape through the open outlet port, and a second source of fluid connected to said inlet port whereby opening of the inlet valve permits iiuid from the latter source to enter the chamber and escape through the open outlet port along with said rst iluid.

WILLIAM C. GLOVER, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

